Explore Arizona

Arizona is the 48th state of the United States, having joined the union only before Hawaii and Alaska. You most likely know this state as the home of the Grand Canyon. While the Earth’s deepest canyon is one of the most beautiful places in the world, Arizona has so much more to offer. The state’s capital is the 5th largest city in the country, and there is no lack of cultural diversity if you take the time to explore the state. Nature and history have also made the expanse of Arizona a place to enjoy otherworldly desert landscapes while also having otherwise rare glimpses into the vibrant past and present of Native American people. Nightborn Travel is born and raised in Arizona, so we hope to provide you with a detailed guide to everything that this state has to offer, from restaurants in Phoenix, to hiking guides around the state, as well as larger scale guides and itineraries that we provide for the other locations that we explore.

Contents

1 General Information and Arizona’s Cities
- 1.1 Cities
  - 1.1.1 Phoenix-Metro
- 1.2
  - 1.2.1 Tucson
  - 1.2.2 Other Towns in Arizona
2 Native American Nations
- - 2.0.1 Havasupai
3 Nature
4 Nightborn Travel Itineraries
- - 4.0.1 Itineraries from other bloggers
5 Where We’ve Been
- 5.1 More Posts and Tips

General Information and Arizona’s Cities

Type: US State (1912)
Region: North America
Official Languages: English; Spanish is common and Native American languages like Dine, Tohono O’odham, Apache, and others are still living.
Population: 6,931,071 (2016)
Capital: Phoenix
Currency: US Dollar
Cultures: American (Southwestern- with heavy influences from Mexican and Native American cultures); How to Travel Respectfully in the US

Cities

Phoenix-Metro

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, and it has gained some notoriety as an endless, souless suburbia. 10 years ago, that might have been true, but these days the city has started to transform into a foodie’s paradise and it is home to some of the most unique museums in the world. Phoenix may not be the city that I consider to embody the cultural mixing pot of Arizona, but it is certainly the place to go if you want to see the modern vibrancy of life in the state. I would be remiss to mention that Phoenix is also home to some of the largest urban, natural preserves in the US.

Check out our guide for the Phoenix-metro area; we cover cultural attractions and tons of hiking in the area.

Tucson

If you are interested in getting a real sense for how Southwestern cultures have manifested in Arizona, Tucson should be your go-to. There is a very strong Mexican influence here, and the city also borders the Tohono O’odham nation, home to the San Xavier Mission (which makes a prominent appearance in the city’s flag above). Tucson is also surrounded by amazingly beautiful mountains, several of which are Sky Islands (desert on the bottom and forests on the top), so there is an almost endless variety of hiking trails to explore.

For all the information that you need on the attractions and hiking in this city, see our Guide to Tucson.

CITIES COMING SOON: Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, and Payson

Other Towns in Arizona

Every town in Arizona has it’s own charm, and most are worth a look by both local people and visitors. If you’d like to see a list of Arizona’s small towns, along with our guides to those that we’ve explored, check that out here. Otherwise, check out our most recent posts on them below:

Backyard Discoveries: Unexpected Beauty at Arcosanti

Backyard Discoveries: Travel Tips for a Jaunt in Jerome, AZ

Backyard Discoveries: The Shrine on Chihuahua Hill

Backyard Discoveries: S.O.S. (or Seeking Out Superior)

Bisbee: A Three Day Itinerary for History and Culture in Southern Arizona

Native American Nations

Arizona has the most land, nearly a quarter of its area, of any US state set aside as Native American Nations. Not all of them are interested in visitors, but those that are offer unique cultural, historic, and natural experiences that should not be missed. We will add guides here to those as we are able to visit.

Havasupai

The Havasupai Tribe are the heart and soul of the Grand Canyon and the keepers of Havasu Falls. If you want to learn more about their culture and history, our guide will give you some starting points to learn more. If you want to visit, we also have the guide for you.

Nature

Most people think about three things when they imagine nature in Arizona, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and the desert. Unsurprisingly, this state is far more complex than that. The simplest way to think about the environment of Arizona is that the south is a lowland desert and the north has higher elevations and forests; the two are delineated by a ridge called the Mogollon Rim. Of course, if you have driven the state, you know that the landscape is a far more like a mosaic than the above description implies. To the south, you will be met with a land of rolling desert grasslands that are crowned by mountains so high that they have their own forests at their summits (called the Sky Islands). But the characteristic, bushy desert of the Sonoran Desert that surrounds the capital of Phoenix also stretches to the south and north. This is a highly biodiverse desert, which will surprise plenty of people with its greenery. To the north, forests become more common, but it is not without its own desert wonders. Monument Valley and the Painted Desert are both great examples of just how jarringly beautiful these places can be. National Parks and State Parks are a great place to start in discovering the magic of Arizona.

Highpoint: Humphreys Peak
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Grand Canyon National Park
National Parks: 22 National Parks

Our Most Recent Nature Posts

While the White Tank Mountains are known for their longer trails, the short trails in the White Tank Mountains are great for families, training hikers, and more.

If you have one day in Phoenix, and you are looking for hikes and outdoor attractions, Papago Park is the place for you.

Tempe Hiking Trails are a great way to build up your hiking ability, or just enjoy a quiet morning in the natural spaces of the urban expanse of Phoenix-metro.

Mt. Humphreys Trail: This 10 mile trail climbs to the top of Arizona’s highpoint. This is a challenging and beautiful trail, not to be undertaken lightly.

Bear Mountain Trail: Sedona Skyline Hike is a guide to one of the most challenging trails in Sedona, Arizona. Go prepared and get some of the most beautiful views in this famous Arizona town.

National Park Units

Arizona is home to more than 20 parks administered by the US National Parks. All of them are beautiful and unique, and they offer an fascinating mix of nature and history across the state. Check out the full list here (Arizona National Parks), along with our guides, and track our progress in visiting them all.

Our most recent posts on the National Park Units in Arizona can be found below:

What is There To Do in Walnut Canyon National Monument

Two Challenging Grand Canyon South Rim Day Hikes

Coronado National Memorial and Tumacacori Historic Park

Other Public Lands

There are many National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, and Wilderness Areas throughout Arizona. For more information on what those are, and to access our guides to them, check out our full list of Arizona’s Other Public Lands, or see below for our most recent post!

COMING SOON!

State Parks

There are over 30 state parks in Arizona, and they can be found all over the state, covering all of Arizona’s most fascinating landscapes. If you want to see a lesser explored side of the Grand Canyon State, state parks are the place to start. See our full list of state park guides here, or see our most recent state park post below.
Why You Need to Visit Tonto Natural Bridge – Just north of Payson, AZ, Tonto Natural Bridge is an easy-to-access, otherwordly formation complete with waterfalls and travertine formations.

Other Hikes

Arizona has nearly endless miles of trails to explore, and in 2020 I decided to commit to 4 hiking challenges. (1) To complete the Arizona 20-20 challenge to hike the 20 tallest peaks and 20 deepest canyons. (2) To hike the Arizona Trail, passage by passage. (3) To thoroughly explore the Grand Canyon. (4) To complete the 120 hikes listed in Falcon’s Hiking Arizona guide. To access the full list, associated guides, and track my progress- give our Arizona Hiking Challenges page a look.

For our most recent posts on each:

Arizona 20-20 Challenge: An Arizonan’s Guide to Hiking Havasupai

Arizona Trail: Passage 07: Las Cienegas

Grand Canyon: South Rim Day Hikes

Hiking Arizona: Vulture Peak Trail: Exploring the Wild Desert in Phoenix’s Backdoor